Gasoline tank closure means



O. C. RITZ-WOLLER GAsoLINE TANK cLosURE MEANS Oct. 18, 1938.

Filed March 17. 1953 "anni" Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED "STATES P o Price Application March 17,

8 Claims.

My inventionI relatesv to 'closure A.means for: the filling spout of .the gasoline tank ofianY automobile :and it has lforitsfobiject .the .provision of-a new and improved :form arrangement of parts whereby a'simplied construction Amay be attained which "will be eiective and convenient in use and `attractive :in: appearance. It` is Aone of the'objects of my invention to provideacon- .struction of this type comprising means for preventing the insertion'oiasiphoning tube of any effective size into the tankforprotecting the tank against -theftof gasoline therefrom. To these ends, it is one ofthe objects of my inventionA to provide aconstruction. of` this type of a yminimum number of parts. by fwhich an effective closure membershall beprovded irremovably across the lling spoutand of such a character asto permit free passage`A of gasoline therethrough and by which a -cap 1 shall be hingedly mounted on theupper end ofthe spout forA preventing thecgasolineirom splashing out of the tank. It is-one of the objectsofmy invention to provide an improved arrangement for holding theV hingedly 'mounted'cap alternatively in either its raised open position or its horizontal closed position, this result being preferably effected through the :resiliency -of the closure member whichf isi preferably made in the form of an elongated spiral spring.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide such an arrangement-of said spiral spring member as toenable the spring to be threaded into position in the spout so that the upper ply of the spring shall underlie the inwardly. turned .yf flange atv the Aupper end of the yspout member,

thearrangement to be such that .the upper end portion of the spring must be elasticallydistorted more or less for threading the spring into position in the spout and such that a corresponding 149 distortion for threading the spring out of. position shall be verydiflicult or impossible whereby the'spring is effectivelyprotected against removal upwardly from the spout.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundrydetails hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplishedmy several objects are illustrated in the drawing and are `hereinafter specifically described. Thatv which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawing',-

Fig. 1 is a central vertical -section through the preferred form of my improved'closuremeans in position onthe -llingv-spoutofa gasoline tank;

1933, 1 Serial N0.'.661,298

Fig. 2 is al View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the closure cap in its raised open position; Y

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken substantially at line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved clo- 5 sure means; and

Fig. 5'1is a horizontalsection through my improved device, taken-substantially at 1ine'5--5 of Fig. 1.

Referring tothe several figures of the drawing, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, I indicates a gasoline tank having` a filling spout II of the ordinary type mounted thereon. As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the metal at the upper end of the spout II is turned inwardly to provide a flange I2 and thendownwardly to provide a longitudinally'extending flange I3, the flanges being cut away at opposite sides of the spout to provide notches I4 therein.

My improved closure 'means comprises a cap member I formed of sheet metal having a downwardly turned ange IB about its outer edge. As is best shown in Fig. 5, a channel member I'I is secured lupon the inner face of the cap I5, being held in position by means of suitable rivets I8. About the 'channel member II and within the i'lange I6, I Vhavey provided a gasket I9 of any approved form,-such ga-sket being cut out at its intermediate portion about the channel member I1. `As is best shown in Fig, the cap member `I5 is provided at one side'with an extension 20 to serve as ahandle for convenient manipulation of the cap. At the side adjacent to the handle extension 20, the metal of thecap is pressed upwardly to provide agroove 2| which serves as an air vent connecting the cut-out portion of the gasket with the outside of the gasket.

sFor connecting'fthe cap I5 in position upon the filling spout and for providing a closure for the filling spout, I Vhave-'provided an elongated spiral spring 22- whichjis formed of a considerable number of pliesv of the same diameter at one end and which is tapered to a point at the opposite end. The spring 22 is preferably formed of tempered steel so Vas to be of considerable -strength and resiliency, being adapted to resist cutting in the cramped location within the nlling spout II as hereinafter described and to be incapable of permanent distortion sidewise within the limits of suchr spout. fThe arrangement of the spring 'is such that it is capable of being threaded readily into the spout II so as to bring the top pliesof thefspring underneath the inwardly and .downwardly turned flange portions: I 2 and I3. 55

The arrangement is such that at the end of the operation of threading the spring into position the top plies are distorted more or less for permitting the end portion of the top ply to pass downwardly through one of the notches I4. The arrangement is such that it is very difficult or perhaps impossible under ordinary conditions to produce the necessary distortion of the end portion of the spring for permitting the spring to be threaded out of engagement with the filling spout.

The cap I5 is connected with the spiral spring member 22 by means of a link 23 in the form of a strap of hardened sheet metal, the upper end f such strap being provided with an eye 24 thereon which is connected by means of a pin 25 extending between the sides of the channel member I1. At its lower end, the link 23 is provided with an eye 26 which is pivotally mounted about an inwardly offset portion 21 of one of the plies of the spring 22. The link 23 is of such length and connected with the spring 22 at such intermediate point therealong that the upper endportion of the spring'member 22 is normally held in slightly compressed relation so as to be slightly under tension for holding the cap I effectively in position as shown in Fig. l. .The relation is such that when the cap I5 is swung upwardly and toward the right in Fig. l into the position as shown in Fig. 2, the tension of the upper end portion of the spring is substantially increased, as is indicated in said Fig. 2, the lower end por-` tion of the spiral member being raised bodily with respect to the filling spout II and the tank I0. When the cap I5 is swung upwardly and sidewise for carrying it to its open position, the end portion of the channel member I1 engages the upper end of the filling spout I0 at a point adjacent to the gasket I9, acting as a fulcrum for the cap with respect to the iilling spout. At about the end of the upward movement of the cap I5, the channel member I1 slides outwardly with respect to the filling spout II into the position as shown in Fig. 2 until the link 23 is brought into engagement with the metal of the spout II, the link 23 preferably being positioned so as to engage one of the notches I4 in such upward movement of the cap. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the link 23 which is bowed inwardly to a slight extent permits the bearings 25 and 21 to move into pastcenters position with respect to the notch I4 for permitting the spring pressure applied through the link 23 from the spring 22 ,to hold the cap releasably in its fully-opened position.

By my improved construction; I have provided an eifective closure for the spout II by which the insertion of a siphoning tube of any effective size is prevented, the arrangement,` however, being such that the gasoline is permitted'to pass freely at high speed through the spout without objectionable splashing. By reason .of my improved arrangement in. which the inwardly offset portion 21 of the spring member is located substantially opposite the end ofthe top ply of the spring member, such end portion of the spring is caused to lie directly underneath the strap 23 so as to be protected effectively thereby with respect to any effort to remove the spring upwardly from the filling spout II. Y

In the use of my improved construction, the cap I5 in its normal fully opened position extends downwardly at one side of the iilling spout so as to bring the lower edge of the cap well below the upper end of the spout. In such position, the bearing portions at the end of the channel inembcr I1 are pressed firmly against the upper end of the spout II in position to act as a temporary fulcrum for the cap when pressure is applied thereto for moving it out of its past-centers locking position with respect to the spout for movement into its closed position.

While I prefer to employ the form of device as shown in my drawing, and as above described, it is to be understood that my invention 1s not limited thereto except so far as it may be so limited by the prior art, it being understood that changes might well be made in the form and arrangement without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adapted to seat` on the inwardly turned iiange at the upper end of the filling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said flange across said filling spout effectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting free entrance of gasoline through the spout, and means connecting said cap with said spiral spring member adapted to permit the cap to` swing upwardly and sidewise into open position and serving thus to put at least a portion of said spring member under increased tension and serving automatically to hold said cap releasably in its open position.

2. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adapted to seat on the inwardly turned flange at the upper end of the lling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said flange across said filling spout effectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting free entrance of gasoline through the spout, and means connecting said Cap with said spiral spring member adapted to permit the cap to swing upwardly and sidewise into open position and serving thus to put at least a portion of said spring under increased tension and serving automatically by a past-centers movement to hold the cap releasably in its open position.

3. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adapted to seat on the inwardlyturned flange at the upper end of the filling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said iiange across said filling spout effectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting free entrance of gasoline through the spout, and means comprising a bowed member connecting said cap with said spiral spring member adapted to permit the cap to swing upwardly and sidewise into open position and serving thus to put at least a portion of said spring under increased tension, Vsaid bowed member being adapted to apply the spring pressure to the cap in a past-centers relation when the cap is in fully opened position for holding the cap releasably in such fully opened position.

4. In a'closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adapted to seat on the inwardly turned flange at the upper end of the filling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said flange across said filling spout effectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting Vfree entrance of gasoline through the spout, means connecting said cap'with said spiral spring member adapted to permit the cap to swing upwardly and sidewise into open position and serving thus to put at least a portion of said spring member under increased tension and serving automatically by a past-centers movement to hold the oapreleasably in its open position, and bearing means on said cap adapted by engagement with the upper end of the spout member to assist in moving said parts out of their pastcenters locking position when said cap is moved downwardly to its closed position.

5. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adapted to seat on the inwardly turned flange at the upper end of the filling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said ange across said lling spout effectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting free entrance of gasoline through the spout, means comprising a bowed member connecting said cap with said spiral spring member adapted to permit the cap to swing upwardly and sidewise into open position and serving thus to put at least a portion of said spring under increased tension, said bowed member being adapted to apply the spring pressure to the cap in a past-centers relation when the cap is in fully opened position for holding the cap releasably in such fully opened position, and bearing means on said cap adapted to engage the upper end of the lling spout at a point inside of the angle of said bowed member when the cap is in fully opened position and adapted to act as a temporary fulcrum for the movement of said parts out of their past-centers locking position.

6. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap adapted to seat on the inwardly turnedfiange at the upper end of the lling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member mounted below said flange across said lilling spout effectively closing the spout against insertion of a siphoning tube therethrough but permitting free entrance of gasoline through the spout, mounting and bearing means carried by said capon its inner face and comprising bearing portions in substantially right angular position with respect to the face of the cap, and a link pivotally connected at one end with said mounting means and pivotally connected at its opposite end portion with said spiral spring member serving to maintain at least a portion of said spring member under tension for holding the cap yieldingly in its closed position and adapted when said cap is raised into an open position to hold said spring member under increased tension, said bearing portions being adapted by engagement with said spout member to act as a fulcrum for the opening movement of the cap and adapted by a sliding movement with respect to the spout to place the parts in a pastcenters locking position for holding the cap releasably in its fully opened position.

7. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of a cap, a gasket mounted on the inner face of said cap and having a cut-out portion at an intermediate point, a groove in the inner face of said cap opening at its inner end at said cut-out portion of the gasket and opening at its outer end outside of the gasket, and means for holding said cap releasably in closure position on the inwardly turned flange at the upper end of the filling spout of .a tank.

8. In a closure device for the gasoline tank of an automobile, the combination of-a cap adapted to seat on the inwardly and downwardly turned flange at the upper end of the filling spout of a tank, a spiral spring member adapted to be threaded downwardly into said spout into position below said angeand arranged so as to resist strongly any effort to thread the member in the reverse direction for removal upwardly from the spout, and a metal strap pivotally connected at one end with said cap and at its opposite end with an intermediate ply of said spring member atY one side thereof and arranged for holding the cap normally in closed position by spring pressure and adapted to permit upward swinging movement of the cap against said spring pressure, the free end of the top ply of the spring member being located opposite the point of connection of said strap with the spring member whereby said strap acts to cover and shield the end portion of the ply for resisting any effort to thread the member out of engagement with the spout.

OLIVER C. RITZ-WOLLER. 

